Apple is said to be working with suppliers to test a new iPad model with a smaller form factor, sporting an 8-inch screen rather than the 9.7-inch size found on current models.

Citing people familiar with the situation, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Apple officials have shown some suppliers designs for a device with an 8-inch screen size. It was said that Apple is qualifying potential suppliers to manufacture the device.

"One person said the smaller device will have a similar screen resolution as the iPad 2," authors Lorraine Luk and Jessica E. Vascellaro wrote. "Apple is working with screen makers including Taiwan-based AU Optronics and LG Display Co. of South Korea to supply the test panels, the person said."

The report also came with a caveat, noting that Apple works with suppliers to test new designs regularly, but that such a device may never see the light of day.

While the Journal has a respectable track record with respect to Apple rumors, like most publications it is not spotless. One of the newspaper's biggest misses came before the launch of the first iPad in 2010, when it suggested the then-unnamed tablet could recognize individual users via a forward-facing camera and customize the system's user interface for them. It also claimed that Apple could partner with Microsoft to bring Bing maps to iOS devices.

Tuesday's report comes on the heels of an initial story from the publication, which claims that Apple plans to add 4G long-term evolution high-speed data connectivity to the third-generation iPad. The LTE iPad will reportedly operate on networks from both Verizon and AT&amp;T in the U.S., and it would be the first 4G device from Apple.

Apple is expected to hold a media event on March 7 to announce its third-generation iPad. The new device is expected to sport the same 9.7-inch screen size as the current generation model, but will have a higher-resolution "Retina Display" similar to the pixel density found on the iPhone 4S screen.

Rumors of a so-called "iPad mini" are not new and have persisted for years. But Apple has long downplayed the prospect of such a device, calling the screen size too small to be functional and criticizing competitors who released 7-inch touchscreen tablets.

In October of 2010, late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs slammed rivals who were building 7-inch tablets, saying the screen size was too small for users. He said that manufacturers of those devices would need to ship sandpaper with their 7-inch tablets so users could file down their fingers to the point where they could hit smaller targets on the screen.

I find it incredible that anyone still listens to these rumours. It's just not going to happen.

Apple make decisions based on rational design considerations.

1) This offers nothing the existing iPad does not.

2) This would complicate the wonderfully simple two-form-factor approach Apple has been so successful with so far.

Introducing a tweener device would mean having UI elements that were slightly smaller than their 9.7" counterparts. That's not elegant, it's Androidesque. Developers lives are incredibly simple designing for 'the iPad'. Why give them the headache of having to design for two different screen sizes that aren't different enough to be worthwhile? It's messy and it's not Apple. I really would have thought people would be getting this by now.

Shaving only 1" from the current size might seem pointless, but it wouldn't be if at the same time a 1" larger model appeared.

Two sizes at two price points, for somewhat different markets. The UI would be the same, and the sizes would not be very far apart. It would not be that different from choosing between a 13" and 15" notebook, something we have done for years. It's the typical portability vs. screen size tradeoff.

I would definitely go for the larger iPad, but I could see the smaller one making more sense for younger people, especially if it is also cheaper.

There is nothing un-Apple about having two iPad sizes. It's been that way forever with notebooks, iMacs, and iPods. One size does not fit all.

I do agree that 7" is a no-mans land. A 4" iPod Touch could make more sense, along with a very slight increase in the iPhone screen size, to 3.7" or 3.8" tops. Anything larger is just not comfortable or phone-like, regardless of what Samsung does.

Yup! Not going to happen! only 1.7" smaller than the current one?! LOL

The best chance of anything remotely close to this would likely be a larger iPod touch.

Agreed. Plus any rumor that implies they're doing something because of competition (read: kindle fire) I call BS on. It was a media meme that the Fire would eat into iPad sales. But according to Tim Cook there is no evidence of that. If anything the Fire is probably eating into the sales of Nook or other Android tablets.

I find it incredible that anyone still listens to these rumours. It's just not going to happen.

Apple make decisions based on rational design considerations.

1) This offers nothing the existing iPad does not.

2) This would complicate the wonderfully simple two-form-factor approach Apple has been so successful with so far.

Introducing a tweener device would mean having UI elements that were slightly smaller than their 9.7" counterparts. That's not elegant, it's Androidesque. Developers lives are incredibly simple designing for 'the iPad'. Why give them the headache of having to design for two different screen sizes that aren't different enough to be worthwhile? It's messy and it's not Apple. I really would have thought people would be getting this by now.

But it fits into the investor analysts meme that Apple has to release something to compete with the great "iPad killer" Kindle Fire.

Yup! Not going to happen! only 1.7" smaller than the current one?! LOL

The best chance of anything remotely close to this would likely be a larger iPod touch.

Agreed. The next logical move would be to increase the screen size of the iPod Touch to the point where it can still fit in your typical pocket. The current size is good for a phone but too small to be ideal for a pocket computer. As well, make the Nano a little larger to help compensate. You don't have to change the resolution of the device if it goes from 3.5 inches to let's say 4.7 inches.

If you offer a 4.7-inch Touch and the 9.7-inch iPad, it makes an 8-inch iPad pointless. Too large to be carried in your pocket but inferior to the 9.7-inch iPad because of a more cramped screen. Lose/lose. And in terms of price point, where would it fit in. If it's too close to the 9.7-inch model, who would buy it and if it goes down market, it would impact Touch sales. Either way, Apple gains nothing from bringing out this product.

That's the biggest thing here. What is Apple's motivation for bringing out such a device. The iPad is wildly successful and the competitors with smaller screens floundering. The Fire is not really in competition because it doesn't have the capabilities of Apple's devices. You can do more with a Touch right now than a Fire and if Apple makes the Touch a little larger, it will be a rather compelling option at that price point.

i still laugh at Jobs comment. I guess he forgot that the iphone had a small touch screen. that, or apple forgot to ship the sandpaper with your purchase.

His comment was in regards to tablets, not phones. Most sites you visit on your phone are mobile optimized but on an iPad, you're getting the normal sites. Anything smaller would make that very difficult to use.

i still laugh at Jobs comment. I guess he forgot that the iphone had a small touch screen. that, or apple forgot to ship the sandpaper with your purchase.

I feel obligated to tell you that you're insane if you think the iPad's UI use case and the iPhone's UI use case have anything to do with one another.

Obligated even though you'll ignore it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carmissimo

You don't have to change the resolution of the device if it goes from 3.5 inches to let's say 4.7 inches.

You're joking, right? OF COURSE YOU DO.

And the resolution is MEANINGLESS. Change the PHYSICAL screen size and you HAVE to redo all of your UI elements. It doesn't matter if it's the same resolution. Existing applications will look absolutely terrible if you don't change them to work on the new device.

Quote:

You can do more with a Touch right now than a Fire and if Apple makes the Touch a little larger, it will be a rather compelling option at that price point.

I'm sure it's not just me, but I don't see Apple forcing developers to code for three different modern sizes for the sake of competing with a device that doesn't even do a quarter of what any iOS device does.

What do I mean by that. 480x320 isn't modern anymore, but apps can still be made compatible with it. Come March, 1024x768 won't be modern anymore, but apps will still be made compatible with it.

So implying a screen SIZE change will mean that people will forced to make apps that run with FOUR different UI configurations.

I feel obligated to tell you that you're insane if you think the iPad's UI use case and the iPhone's UI use case have anything to do with one another.

Obligated even though you'll ignore it.

You're joking, right? OF COURSE YOU DO.

And the resolution is MEANINGLESS. Change the PHYSICAL screen size and you HAVE to redo all of your UI elements. It doesn't matter if it's the same resolution. Existing applications will look absolutely terrible if you don't change them to work on the new device.

I'm sure it's not just me, but I don't see Apple forcing developers to code for three different modern sizes for the sake of competing with a device that doesn't even do a quarter of what any iOS device does.

What do I mean by that. 480x320 isn't modern anymore, but apps can still be made compatible with it. Come March, 1024x768 won't be modern anymore, but apps will still be made compatible with it.

So implying a screen SIZE change will mean that people will forced to make apps that run with FOUR different UI configurations.

I think you are way overestimating how much elements would have to be changed to have software running on a 4.7-inch device vs. a 3.5-incher. I'm sure, for instance, that you could easily run existing software made for the 3.5-inch Touch on the 4.7-incher with no hitches. The beauty of the current resolution on the Touch and iPhone is that it can comfortably accommodate a bit of a bump in screen size.

From a developer's perspective, this would not cause any issues. Chances are there would be little if any change in how a program is designed for a 3.5-inch device and a 4.7-inch device. Leaping up to 9.7 inches, that is another matter and yet how difficult has it been to accommodate the 9.7-inch iPad. If that transition was relatively seamless, what sort of silliness is it to think the world would come to an end of the iPod was bumped up to 4.7 inches.

The report also came with a caveat, noting that Apple works with suppliers to test new designs regularly, but that such a device may never see the light of day.

There's the key point. Apple tests tons of stuff, even patents tons of stuff, that either never happens or doesn't happen from Apple but they make some cash off the licensing.

Add also the mentioned possible test for leaks with a fake product or even the possibility that they might be looking at making the iPod Touch larger to make it more than 'an iPhone that isn't a phone'
rather than an iPad mini. That actually makes sense to me. Something in the 6 inch range could be a good gaming machine or even a good controller for games that work alongside an apple tv.

Agreed. Plus any rumor that implies they're doing something because of competition (read: kindle fire) I call BS on. It was a media meme that the Fire would eat into iPad sales. But according to Tim Cook there is no evidence of that. If anything the Fire is probably eating into the sales of Nook or other Android tablets.

Agreed on the rumors. Apple has never acted based on what the other boys are doing. Doesn't need to now either.

As for the whole Fire thing. Yeah they sold something like 1.5 million Kindle models during the holiday quarter but how many of the what 5 models were Fires. We never found out. How many of those were returned within a week of using them. I know of an easy 20 folks between friends, family and workers that got and returned a Fire. 5 because they just don't feel the need to have any kind of tablet. Another 4-5 because they just want an ereader and they got a regular Kindle. The rest because they felt the Kindle Fire sucks for one reason or another and are waiting for the next iPad. Of those 10, I know that 3 of them mentioned the lack of parental controls or even just requiring your password to make a purchase (if you log out completely nothing from your media or books works so that's no good) as a major issue. But those are still 20 sales that Amazon can and will count.

As for the whole Fire thing. Yeah they sold something like 1.5 million Kindle models during the holiday quarter but how many of the what 5 models were Fires. We never found out. How many of those were returned within a week of using them. I know of an easy 20 folks between friends, family and workers that got and returned a Fire.

I have an 11" Air, but wanted to get a Kindle. Returned the Fire after a week. It's a great size/form factor. The Amazon UI and constant lag that be-riddles Android just got old, quickly.

He said that manufacturers of those devices would need to ship sandpaper with their 7-inch tablets so users could file down their fingers to the point where they could hit smaller targets on the screen.

Hey, solipsism, come on over here and tell these guys why virtually everything has to be redone if the size changes. You're much better at it than I.

The same "sort of silliness" that is grounded in the reality that the transition was in no way "seamless".

What, you think developers changed "RunsOniPad" to "1" and were done with it? No. They had to rebuild their apps' UI from scratch. And they'd have to do the same for a physically larger device.

Be that as it may, the notion that Apple can handle offering an IOS device at 3.5 inches and one at 9.7 inches but the whole eco system would come crashing down if it attempted to work with a 4.7-inch device is, well, sorry, but silly is the one word that comes to mind.

Obviously, if Apple decides that a 4.7-inch device makes sense to the end user, your suggestion that it is beyond the company's ability to handle introducing such a device seems rather absurd. Clearly if Apple wants to make this happen, I'm sure it's got the clout to do so. I would consider it a mistake to think it's beyond the company's capabilities or outside of the range of the IOS system to accommodate such a product. If it never comes to market it's because it does not make sense to Apple in the context of the bigger picture. It's not going to be because it's too tough an assignment for Apple to cope with.